Today's high-tech stoves, inserts and fireplaces burn efficient, more economical alternatives to natural gas, oil, and coal

Rising energy costs have coerced Americans into re-thinking nearly every aspect of daily life. Today, more than than ever before, we are conscious of the amount of energy we use and how we use it. Energy efficiency has become as important in the operation of our homes as fuel efficient cars are for transportation. With winter’s cold closing in, the cost of heating our homes once again threatens our budgets as well as our natural resources.

Today there are numerous environmentally responsible choices for generating warmth, including wood pellets, which generally are made from sawdust and wood shavings, available as fuel to heat our homes. In fact, nearly 800,000 homeowners are already using them.

Wood pellets are extremely versatile and can be used to run a whole-house heating system. However, the fuel is more commonly used to feed fireplace inserts and freestanding stoves serving as supplemental heating appliances. Turning on an insert or stove allows you to turn down the household thermostat, saving energy as well as money. Turning wood waste (and other biomass, like shelled corn and wheat hulls) into energy-dense fuel, also results in less waste being heaped onto landfills. Plus, pelletized wood and more-traditional solid woods are eco-friendly alternatives to nonrenewable fossil fuels such as natural gas, oil, and coal.

However, before you jump on the wood-burning bandwagon headfirst, a number of potential drawbacks must be considered...

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